Postal-card-display device.



W.- J. GOOPERlv POSTAL GARD DISPLAY DEVGE.

APPLIOATIGN FILED SEPT. 17, 1908.

' Patented 0@t.4,1910

ltllCE.

WILLIAM J. COOPER, OF STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA;

POSTAL-CARD-DISPLAY DEVICE.

Patented @et a, MMU.

Serial No. 453,425.

971,596. Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 17, 1908.

To all whom it may concern.'

13e it known that I, VILLIAM JOHN COOPER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stockton, in the county of San Joaquin, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Postal- Card-Display Devices; and I do hereby declare the following' to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

rThis invention relates to devices for displaying cards and like articles, more particularly picture postal cards in convenient pow sition for inspection, display and the storage of articles of this character, and has for one of its objects to provide a simply constructed device of this character whereby a plurality of cards may be constantly displayed and at the same time st-ored in convenient and accessible position and without danger of damage from handling or from becoming shop worn.7

Another object of the invention is to provide a simply constructed device of this character whereby a supply of cards may be stored safely from damage by dust or dampness or from being handled or otherwise damaged.

lith these and other objects in view the invention consists in a casing having two endless chains engaging chain wheels running over shafts spaced apart, the chains coupled at intervals by transverse rods, a plurality of receptacles for the cards open at the front and top and suspended from the rods, and means for constantly rotating the chains to bring the receptacles containing the cards successively in front of a display opening or door having a transparent panel.

The invention further consists in certain novel features of construction as hereafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in the claim, and in the drawings illustrating` the preferred embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved device, partly in section. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. t. is a sectional detail illustrating the construction of the locking pawl mechanism.

The improved device comprises a casing 10 of any suitable form, and of any desired ornamental shape or design and preferably forming a part of the fixtures of a store and extending from the ceiling to the floor and against a wall, the ceiling indicated at l1, the door at 12 and the wall at 18, and the casing being provided with swinging doors 11 having transparent glass panels 12 of the usual form.

Mounted for rotation in the upper portion of the casing is a shaft 3G, and likewise mounted for rotation in the lower portion of the casing is a shaft 15, the shaft 3G carrying spaced chain wheels 1(3-17 `and the shaft 15 carrying spaced chain wheels 18 19, the wheels 16-18 carrying an endless chain 2O and the wheels 17 19 carrying an endless chain 21, the chains made up preferably of detachable links and certain of the links at spaced intervals having perforated ears 22 carrying rods 23, the rods being uniformly spaced apart, as shown.

Suspended from the rods 23 are a plurality of receptacles 24 for the cards to be displayed and formed with an Open front 25 and likewise open at the top as at 2G, so that the cards indicated at 2T may be readily inserted and removed and the outermost card displayed through the opening.

Extending 'upwardly from each end of each receptacle arearms 28 having a terminal hook 29 for engaging over the rods 23, the hooks preferably having a relatively long depending terminal so that they will. not be readily detached from the rods lout will require to bc elevated to a considerable extent before they can be released. By this means the receptacles will not be accidentally displaced from the rods when in operation.

The chain wheels will be sufliciently large so that as the chains carrying the rods and the suspended receptacles are rotated, the receptacles will readily pass over the upper shaft 36 without being disturbed thereby, and the shaft 15 will be disposed a sufficient distance above the door 12 so that as the receptacles move downwardly and around the bottom of the lower shaft and then upward again at the front or next to the door of the casing, the receptacles will not strike the floor.

At one point intermediate the shafts 36-15 a stub shaft 34 is arranged and carrying a chain wheel 35 engaging the cha-in 20. Carried by the shaft 3e is a brake or drum 38 preferably with spaced teeth, and swinging at 30 upon the casing 10 is a small lever 31 having a pawl 32 swinging from one end, t-he pawl adapted to be alternately engaged with and disconnected from the toothed wheel or drum 38 according to the position of the lever.

Push buttons `are movably arranged through the front portion of the casing l() and connected to the opposite ends ot a lever 8l, the lever being pivoted at 30 to the casing l0. The pawl 32 is connected to the lever 3l at one end, so that when the push button 33 is moved inwardly the pawl will be engaged with the drum and lock the belt and its connections. Then when the push button Llf2 is moved inwardly, the lever 3l will be reversed in position, and release as hereafter explained. l

The device is preferably designed to be operated by an electric motor, and a conventional outline ot a device of this character is represented at 37 with the conductor wires represented respectively at #L3-39 and connected respectively to the members 323)41 of the controlling switch. By this means when the push button 33 is operated to force the pawl 32 against the drum 2S, the contacts IO-ell will be separated and the switch opened and thus break the circuit and disconnect the motor, and at the same time lock the belt of receptacles. Then when it is desired to operate the belt again the pawl 32 is withdrawn from the drum 28 by actuating the push button@ and reversing the position of the switch, and the motor is thus again connected with the source of energy. By this simple means the operation of the motor is controlled and the belt of recep tacles held in stationary position when the motor is cut-out.

that is claimed, is

In a device et the class described, a casing, shafts mounted for rotation and spaced apart within said casing, chain wheels carried by said shafts, endless chains operating over said chain wheels, rods spaced apart and connected to said chains, a plurality of re.- ceptacles open at the top and with upwardly projecting hoolls detachably engaging said rods. an intermediate chain wheel engaging one of said chains and having a toot-hed drum rotated therewith, a swinging arm, a pawl connectetL to said arm and alternately yengaging said` drum, means for swinging said arm, an electric motor connected to actuate said endless chains, and switch devices associated with said swinging arm, whereby the circuit through the motor is closed simultaneously with the removal of the pawl from engagement wit-h the drum.

ln testimony whereof, I aiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

VILLIAM J. COOPER.

litnesses G. C. VVILKINS, C. H. DANOUGH. 

